Housing Fund Can Help More Than 700 Families

Housing Fund Can Help More Than 700 Families

Article excerpt

In Monday's PG, reporter Adam Smeltz quotes Mayor Bill Peduto voicing support for funding the Housing Opportunity Fund passed last year by city council ("Peduto Budget Gains Initial Approval," Oct. 23). This fund, designed to both preserve existing affordable housing and support creation of new affordable rental and ownership opportunities, needs at least $10 million per year to begin to protect low- and moderate-income families from being further driven out of our city.

The fund was the No. 1 recommendation from the Affordable Housing Task Force established by the mayor two years ago. More than 14,000 voters from every precinct and ward in the city signed a petition last year calling for a small increase in the realty transfer tax. Hundreds of city residents from every part of our city have testified, called and written letters to council asking for their leadership to enact and fund the Housing Opportunity Fund. …